Pope Francis

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/pope-francis-angelus-ready-final-encounter-with-lord.html

Pope at Angelus: Be ready for the final encounter with the Lord
11 August 2019, 12:19

Pope Francis during the Sunday Angelus   (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis reflects on this Sunday’s Gospel and on Jesus’ call to be vigilant and to “light our lamps” as we await the final encounter with the Father.
By Vatican News

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples to “gird your loins and light your lamps”. Speaking before the recitation of the Angelus in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis described this image as one that “recalls the attitude of the pilgrim, ready to set out on a journey”. “It is a question of not putting down roots in comfortable and reassuring dwellings”, he said, “but of abandoning oneself with simplicity and trust to the will of God, who guides us towards the next goal”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/pope-francis-recalls-70th-anniversary-geneva-conventions.html
Pope recalls 70th Anniversary of Geneva Conventions
11 August 2019, 12:20

https://zenit.org/articles/popes-angelus-address-on-being-vigilant-faithful-servants-full-text/
Pope’s Angelus Address: On Being Vigilant, Faithful Servants (FULL TEXT) 
August 11, 2019 17:39•Deborah Castellano Lubov

Video, with English commentary, at the link below--
Pope's Angelus of 11 August 2019
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/angelus/2019-08/pope-francis-angelus-11-08-2019.html#play
or
Pope Francis - Angelus prayer 2019-08-11
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/pope-francis-renews-statutes-vatican-bank-ior.html

Pope Francis renews the Statutes of the Vatican Bank (IOR)
10 August 2019, 12:44

Two clients exit the Vatican Bank
Pope Francis approves the renewed Statutes for the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR). These include the appointment of an external auditor and new regulations regarding both governance and employees.
By Sergio Centofanti

Pope Pius XII founded the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), commonly known as the Vatican Bank, in 1942 – although its origins go back to 1887 and the pontificate of Pope Leo XIII. In 1990, Pope Saint John Paul II approved the IOR’s Statutes in order to better adapt the Vatican Bank "to the needs of the times".

With an Administrative Order, published on Saturday, Pope Francis has renewed those Statutes ad experimentum, for a period of two years.
 

[grace-land]

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/08/10/texas-bishop-advises-prudence-about-alleged-marian-apparitions/

Texas bishop advises prudence about alleged Marian apparitions
Christopher White   Aug 10, 2019

NEW YORK - Texas Bishop Michael Olson is shutting down rumors that he has validated Marian apparitions in the diocese of Fort Worth.

In a statement on Thursday, the diocese said that “recent claims made on websites and in social media have indicated that alleged apparitions and messages of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under a title of ‘Mystical Rose - Our Lady of Argyle,’ have been authenticated by Bishop Michael Olson and the Diocese of Fort Worth. This is not true.”

“These claims of apparitions and messages are not verified or endorsed by the Church, and in no way are claims true that the Mystical Rose is a ministry of the Diocese of Fort Worth or of St. Mark Parish,” the statement continued.

St. Mark Catholic Church in Argyle, Texas is the initial location of the alleged apparitions.

According to a website launched by the alleged visionary, the apparitions began in 2017 with messages from the Virgin Mary regarding the sanctity of human life. Since then, the visionary claims to have received apparitions from numerous saints, angels, and even Jesus Christ.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/pope-at-angelus-on-assumption-mary-is-the-gate-of-heaven.html

Pope at Angelus on feast of the Assumption: Mary is the “Gate of Heaven”
15 August 2019, 11:59

Pope Francis at the Angelus on Thursday, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis invites us to “look upwards” because, thanks to Mary’s assumption into Heaven: “the sky is open” and we need no longer be afraid.
By Vatican News

In St Luke’s Gospel on this Solemnity of the Assumption, the Evangelist records the words of Our Lady as she prays: "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour". Before reciting the Angelus, Pope Francis reflected on the two verbs in that prayer: to rejoice and to magnify.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/pope-expresses-his-closeness-to-people-affected-by-monsoon-rains.html
Pope expresses his closeness to people affected by monsoon rains
15 August 2019, 12:02

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-gives-thousands-of-rosaries-to-christians-in-syria-81785
Pope Francis gives thousands of rosaries to Christians in Syria

https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-on-the-feast-of-the-assumption-5/
POPE’S ANGELUS ADDRESS: On the Feast of the Assumption (FULL TEXT) 
August 15, 2019 13:08•Deborah Castellano Lubov

Video, with English commentary, at the link below--
Pope's Angelus of 15 August 2019
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/angelus/2019-08/pope-s-angelus-of-15-august-2019.html#play
or
Pope Francis - Angelus prayer 2019-08-15
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Update:  Cardinal Pell

https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/11976/cardinal-pell-appeal-decision-due-next-week

15 August 2019, The Tablet
Cardinal Pell appeal decision due next week
by Ruth Gledhill

A court in Australia will rule next week on Cardinal George Pell's appeal against his conviction on child sex abuse offences.

The decision of the Victorian Court of Appeal is expected on Wednesday 21 August.

If successful, Pell will be released from prison where he has been incarcerated since he was sentenced in March to six years in prison after his conviction last December on five counts of child sex abuse.

He appealed against the verdict and the court heard the appeal in June.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/pope-francis-angelus-gods-love-enflames-earth.html

Pope at Angelus: Fire of God’s love burns in charity
18 August 2019, 12:01

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims at the Sunday Angelus  (Vatican Media)
At the Angelus prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis reminds us that Jesus brought the fire of God’s love upon earth, to overcome apathy and open our hearts to the needs of others.
By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis reflected on the day’s Gospel (Lk 12:49-33), in which Jesus tells his disciples that the time has come to make a decisive choice in favor of the Gospel.

This choice, said the Pope, cannot be postponed, as Jesus’ image of the fire shows.

“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” Jesus tells his disciples.

“These words are intended to help the disciples abandon every attitude of laziness, apathy, indifference, and closure so as to welcome the fire of God's love,” the Holy Father said.

That fire kindles life and saves humanity. By spreading God’s limitless love throughout the world, he said, we are recognized as Jesus’ true disciples.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/popes-angelus-address-on-letting-jesus-fire-change-our-hearts-renew-our-lives-full-text/
POPE’S ANGELUS ADDRESS: On Letting Jesus’ Fire Change Our Hearts, Renew Our Lives (FULL TEXT) 
August 18, 2019 15:23•Deborah Castellano Lubov

Video, with English commentary, at the link below--
Pope's Angelus of 18 August 2019
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/angelus/2019-08/pope-francis-angelus-video-18-august-2019.html#play
or
Pope Francis - Angelus prayer 2019-08-18
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/hospital-ship-will-bring-word-of-god-health-care-to-amazon.html

Pope Francis hospital ship brings Word of God, health care to Amazon region
17 August 2019, 21:00

The Hospital Ship Pope Francis
Pope Francis sends a letter of congratulation for a new hospital boat, which arrived on Saturday in the Archdiocese of Belém do Pará in Brazil.
By Vatican News

The “Pope Francis Hospital Ship” has arrived in the Archdiocese of Belem, and is set to begin work in areas of the Amazon region which are accessible only by river.

At a ceremony for the launch of the vessel, a letter from Pope Francis was read, in which the Pontiff expresses the “great satisfaction” with which he joins those taking part “in this moment of joyful thanksgiving to God.” He notes that the hospital ship “will bring the Word of God and offer access to better health care to the most needy people” along a stretch of the Amazon extending around one thousand kilometers.
 

[grace-land]

Update:  Cardinal Pell

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/20/australia/cardinal-george-pell-intl-hnk/index.html

Cardinal George Pell loses appeal against conviction for child sex abuse
By Hilary Whiteman, CNN
Updated 8:07 PM ET, Tue August 20, 2019

Melbourne (CNN) — Former Vatican treasurer George Pell will remain in prison after an Australian appeals court rejected the disgraced cardinal's appeal against his conviction for sexually assaulting two 13-year-old choirboys in the mid-1990s.

The most senior Catholic official to be convicted of child sexual assault, Pell was sentenced in March to six years in prison, with a non-parole period of three years and eight months, for an attack described by Chief Judge Peter Kidd as "breathtakingly arrogant."

Lawyers for the 78-year-old cardinal immediately appealed his conviction, and in June presented 13 "solid obstacles" to a guilty verdict on all five charges, including that it was "not possible" for Pell to be alone while robed after Sunday mass and for no one to notice the boys were missing at that time.

On Wednesday, the panel of three senior judges rejected that submission, accepting that it was possible for the jury to have found Pell guilty beyond reasonable doubt, based on the evidence presented at Pell's five-week trial last December.

"There has been vigorous and sometimes emotional criticism of the Cardinal and he has been publicly vilified in some sections of the community," a summary of the judgment read.

"It is fair to say that his case has divided the community."

From the dock in court 15, Pell showed little reaction as Chief Justice Anne Ferguson delivered Wednesday's verdict, which followed more than two months of deliberation between three judges who returned a ruling with vote two for and one against. Pell listened intently during the summary, staring straight at the judge.
 
Pell has 28 days to appeal Wednesday's ruling in Australia's High Court, the country's highest-ranking court. Any ruling made there would be final and not subject to appeal.

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2019-08/australia-cardinal-pell-appeal-decision.html
Australian court dismisses Cardinal Pell's appeal
updated 21 august 2019 02:09 am

[grace-land]

Update:  Cardinal Pell

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-08/vatican-statement-on-cardinal-pell-verdict.html

Vatican statement on Cardinal Pell verdict
21 August 2019, 08:10

Cardinal George Pell
 
"While reiterating its respect for the Australian judicial system, as stated on 26 February after the first instance verdict was announced, the Holy See acknowledges the court’s decision to dismiss Cardinal Pell’s appeal.

"As the proceedings continue to develop, the Holy See recalls that the Cardinal has always maintained his innocence throughout the judicial process and that it is his right to appeal to the High Court.

"At this time, together with the Church in Australia, the Holy See confirms its closeness to the victims of sexual abuse and its commitment to pursue, through the competent ecclesiastical authorities, those members of the clergy who commit such abuse."

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-08/reactions-to-australia-court-rejection-of-pell-appeal.html
Reactions to Australian Court rejection of Cardinal Pell’s appeal
21 August 2019, 08:52

The local Church in Australia and the Holy See react to the decision of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia, on the dismissal of Cardinal George Pell’s appeal.

Shortly after the 2-1 decision announced by the Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia, dismissing Cardinal George Pell’s appeal, both the local Church in Australia and the Holy See released statements containing their reaction to the decision.
 

[grace-land]

Update:  Cardinal Pell

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-george-pell-loses-appeal-of-sex-abuse-conviction-43499

Cardinal George Pell loses appeal of sex abuse conviction
By Ed Condon and JD Flynn

Melbourne, Australia, Aug 20, 2019 / 06:31 pm (CNA).- The conviction of Cardinal George Pell has been upheld by the Court of Appeals in Victoria. After an appellate panel announced its decision at a court proceeding Aug. 21, the cardinal was returned to prison.

“By majority (2 to 1), the Court of Appeals has dismissed Cardinal George Pell’s appeal against his conviction for the commission of sexual offences. He will continue to serve his sentence of 6 years’ imprisonment. He will remain eligible to apply for parole after he has served 3 years 8 months of his sentence,” Chief Justice Anne Ferguson said in her opening remarks in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
 

https://twitter.com/roccopalmo
 Rocco Palmo‏ @roccopalmo · 24h  24 hours ago 

325-page ruling of Victoria Supreme Court upholding Card Pell’s abuse convictions is now posted:  https://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-08/pell_v_the_queen_2019_vsca_186_-_web.pdf …

 ...and a summary of the judgment: https://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-08/pell_v_the_queen_-_judgment_summary_-_web.docx …

While some reports portray decision as 2-1, most of the appeal’s dismissal was unanimous.
______________

Video at the link below--
Court explains why George Pell's appeal was dismissed | Nine News Australia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3svdURI3VvM

[grace-land]

Update:  Cardinal Pell
Hmmm...

https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2019/08/the-australian-disgrace
The Australian Disgrace
by George Weigel
8 . 21 . 19

There will be much more to be said in the weeks and months ahead about the rejection of Cardinal George Pell’s appeal of his conviction for “historic sexual abuse,” by the 2-1 vote of a three-judge panel of the Supreme Court of Victoria. For the moment, this astonishing, indeed incomprehensible, decision calls into the gravest doubt the quality of justice in Australia—and the possibility of any Catholic cleric charged with sexual abuse to receive a fair trial or a fair consideration of the probity of his trial.

In the live-streamed appellate court proceedings on the morning of August 21 (Melbourne time), Victoria Supreme Court chief justice Anne Ferguson, reading the decision, made persistent reference to “the whole of the evidence.” But there has never been any “evidence” that Cardinal Pell did what he was alleged to have done. There was only the word of the complainant, and there was absolutely no corroboration of his charges—which, in the months since the cardinal’s trials, have been shown to be alarmingly similar to a fake set of charges leveled against a priest in a story published years ago in Rolling Stone.
 
Two and a half months ago, at Cardinal Pell’s appeal hearing, Judges Ferguson, Maxwell, and Weinberg aggressively queried the Crown representative defending the guilty verdict, whose performance, by any objective standard, was exceptionally weak. By contrast, the appellate panel gave every indication during the appeal hearing of taking seriously the defense’s insistence that the guilty verdict against Cardinal Pell was “unsafe,” in that it could not have been reasonably arrived at on the evidence at hand (or, in this case, the lack thereof). What happened in the ensuing two months? That will certainly be worth exploring in the weeks ahead.
 

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/opinions-divided-in-reaction-to-pell-decision-24723
Opinions divided in reaction to Pell decision

Melbourne, Australia, Aug 21, 2019 / 03:00 pm (CNA).- The decision by the Court of Appeal in Victoria to reject Cardinal George Pell’s appeal of his conviction for child sex abuse Wednesday has divided opinion among court watchers, both Catholic and secular.

Reactions to the ruling ranged from celebrations that Pell will remain in prison, to questions being raised about the entire Australian legal system.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/pope-at-audience-beware-of-hypocrisy-actions-speak-louder-than.html

Pope at Audience: Beware of hypocrisy, actions speak louder than words
21 August 2019, 11:54

Pope Francis during his weekly General Audience  (AFP or licensors)
During his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis reflects on how the Christian community is born of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and grows through the mutual sharing of life among the Lord’s disciples.

In his continuing catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles in the Paul VI hall on Wednesday, Pope Francis spoke of the solidarity between Christians and how it is essential in building up God’s family. This fraternity he said, “is nourished by receiving the sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood.”
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/pope-francis-general-audience-21-august-summary.html
Pope Francis’ General Audience: English summary
21 August 2019, 09:44

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - General Audience 2019-08-21
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/pope-at-angelus-love-is-always-demanding.html

Pope at Angelus: Love is always demanding
25 August 2019, 12:57

Pope Francis smiles and waves to the faithful during his weekly Angelus address
Pope Francis says that in order to be saved we must love God and our neighbour – "and this is not comfortable."
By Christopher Wells

At the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis reflected on the day’s Gospel reading, in which Jesus is asked, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” In Jesus’ time, this was a much debated point. “Jesus, however, turned the question around,” the Pope said. Instead of dwelling on the number of the saved, whether few or many, the Lord “places the answer on the plane of responsibility, inviting us to use the present time well.”
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/pope-francis-on-amazon-that-forest-lung-is-vital-for-our-planet.html
Pope Francis on Amazon: That forest lung is vital for our planet
25 August 2019, 11:53

https://zenit.org/articles/popes-angelus-address-on-striving-to-enter-the-narrow-door-to-paradise-full-text/
POPE’S ANGELUS ADDRESS: On Striving to Enter the Narrow Door to Paradise (FULL TEXT) 
August 25, 2019 12:20•Deborah Castellano Lubov

Video, with English commentary, at the link below--
Pope's Angelus of 25 Aug 2019
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/angelus/2019-08/pope-s-angelus-of-25-aug-2019.html#play
or
Pope Francis - Angelus prayer 2019-08-25
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/pope-francis-welcomes-uae-fraternity-committee.html

Pope welcomes new UAE committee to promote Human Fraternity
26 August 2019, 15:30

Pope Francis expresses his appreciation for a new committee set up in the United Arab Emirates to promote the ideals contained in the Document on Human Fraternity
By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayyeb, signed the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together in Abu Dhabi in February 2019.

Now that document has led the UAE to set up a high committee to spread the principles of tolerance and cooperation, especially through education.

Pope’s gratitude

On Monday, the Pope encouraged the committee’s work and thanked the UAE “for the concrete commitment shown on behalf of human fraternity”. He also expressed hope that similar initiatives may spring up in other parts of the world.

“Although sadly evil, hatred, and division often make news, there is a hidden sea of goodness that is growing and leads us to hope in dialogue, reciprocal knowledge and the possibility of building – together with the followers of other religions and all men and women of good will – a world of fraternity and peace.”

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, announced the Holy Father’s appreciation and remarks in a press statement.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/pope-greets-methodist-waldensian-synod.html

Pope to Methodists: We can offer common answers to suffering of the poorest
26 August 2019, 09:51

Pope Francis sends greetings to the Synod of the Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches, taking place this week in Torre Pellice (Turin).
By Vatican News

In a letter to the Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches, Pope Francis said he is praying for them, “so that in these days of encounter, prayer and reflection” they might be able “to have a living experience of the Holy Spirit, who animates and gives strength to Christian witness.”

The Holy Father said he joins them in their prayer for “the consolidation of the ecumenical spirit among Christians, as well as the growing communion between our Churches.” Pope Francis insists on the urgency of an authentic witness to Christ and the Gospel that is possible only by pursuing a unity of intentions and actions, saying “we are called to continue our commitment on the path of mutual knowledge, understanding, and collaboration, in order to bear witness to Jesus and His Gospel of charity.”

Before offering his blessing to the participants in the Synod, the Pope said that “as disciples of Christ we can offer common responses to the suffering that afflicts so many people, especially the poorest and weakest, and promoting justice and peace.”
 

[grace-land]

Update:  Cardinal Pell

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-pell-to-appeal-to-australian-high-court-63353

Cardinal Pell to appeal to Australian High Court
By Ed Condon

Canberra, Australia, Aug 26, 2019 / 10:05 am (CNA).- Cardinal George Pell will appeal his conviction to the Australian High Court, following the decision last week by the Court of Appeal in Victoria to uphold his conviction for child sexual abuse.


Sources close to the cardinal told CNA Aug. 26 that Pell would be exercising his final appeal and that, while the majority of “special leave to appeal” cases were not granted by the High Court, his case would likely be accepted given the controversy triggered by the split decision of the Appeal Court judgement.

In seeking to take his case to the High Court in Canberra, Australia’s supreme court, Pell will be exercising his last legal avenue to overturn a conviction which has divided opinion in the country and internationally.

Several Australian media outlets have reported that Pell will retain the same legal team which presented his case in Victoria, led by Brett Walker SC.
 
All three judges granted further leave to appeal on the ground of the unreasonableness of the jury’s conviction.

Media commentators and members of the Australian legal community have voiced concerns about the reasoning of the two-judge majority opinion and the wider implications its argumentation could have for standards of evidence in criminal trials.

Pell’s legal team are expected to use the dissent issued by Weinberg as the legal blueprint for their appeal to the High Court, which must be filed within three weeks of the Appeal Court decision last week.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/pope-francis-paraguay-youth-triennial-message.html

Pope invites Paraguay youth to bring Gospel to the poorest
27 August 2019, 13:28

Pope Francis sends his greetings to the young people of Paraguay, urging them to embrace Jesus Christ and to be missionary disciples.
By Devin Watkins

The conclusion of a 3-year initiative dedicated to young people formed the occasion for the Pope’s message to Paraguayan youth.

Organized by the country’s Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Triennium ended with a forum held over the weekend in the capital, Asunción, which was attended by some 600 young people.

Vocation

In his message to participants, Pope Francis reflected on the theme “Youth, Faith, and Vocational Discernment”.

“As the fruit of this time of grace in which you have reflected on the centrality of faith,” the Pope encouraged Paraguayan youth “to embrace Jesus Christ, who has called you to be his friends, so that you may remain in him and bear much fruit”.

The Holy Father also urged young people to listen to the Lord’s voice.

God, he said, sends them – both as individuals and as a community – to be “witnesses to the Good News of salvation” amongst the poorest of their brothers and sisters.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/while-fort-worth-bishop-says-apparition-is-not-real-alleged-visionary-blames-demonic-attack-87931

While Fort Worth bishop says apparition is not real, alleged visionary blames demonic attack

Fort Worth, Texas, Aug 27, 2019 / 02:40 pm (CNA).- The Bishop of Fort Worth, Texas, said Monday that alleged local appearances of the Blessed Virgin Mary are not real apparitions, and that alleged evidence of the visions is fake. But supporters of the alleged apparitions say that Satan is trying to discredit their visions.
 
“It is my sad responsibility to inform you that last week the Diocese of Fort Worth received irrefutable evidence that these purported apparitions, messages, and miracles are, in fact, a fabrication,” Bishop Michael Olson wrote in an Aug. 26 letter.

Earlier this month, Olson warned in a letter that the apparent apparitions, which were said to be taking placing in Argyle, Texas, should not be considered authenticated by the Church. But his letter this week was more direct.

The bishop said that he had reviewed a security tape from Loreto House, a pro-life apostolate where both apparitions of Mary and the miraculous appearance of roses were said to occur.

“The videotape clearly reveals the alleged visionary surreptitiously dropping a rose on the floor of a room; she would later make the claim that the rose was a miraculous gift of the Virgin Mary.”

“After viewing the video and consulting with diocesan advisors and others, I have concluded that the Mystical Rose—Our Lady of Argyle is a fabrication and not true.”
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/pope-francis-general-audience-church-cares-for-sick.html

Pope at Audience: Church a ‘field hospital’ that cares for sick
28 August 2019, 12:30

Pope Francis waves to the faithful in St. Peter's Square  (Vatican Media)
At the weekly General Audience, Pope Francis says the Church is like “a field hospital” that must care for the sick, even when our actions incite envy and hatred in others.
By Devin Watkins

Continuing his catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles, Pope Francis reflected on how Jesus strengthened the early Christian community to serve those in need, especially as seen in the ministry of St. Peter.

The Lord, said the Pope, was generous with Jesus’ disciples, who worked “many signs and wonders” (Acts 5:12,15-16).

He said the early Church is depicted as “a field hospital that takes in the weakest people: the infirm.”

“The sick hold a privileged role in the Church and in the priestly heart of all the faithful,” said Pope Francis. “They are not to be cast aside. On the contrary, they are to be cared for, to be looked after. They are the objects of Christian concern.”
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-08/pope-francis-80th-anniversary-world-war-2.html
Pope prays for peace ahead of 80th anniversary of World War II outbreak
28 August 2019, 11:12

https://zenit.org/articles/popes-general-audience-full-text-on-the-acts-of-the-apostles-acts-5-1215-16/
POPE’S GENERAL AUDIENCE (FULL TEXT): On the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 5: 12,15-16) 
August 28, 2019 13:24•ZENIT Staff

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - General Audience 2019-08-28
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Video at the link

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/two-popes-teaser-trailer-anthony-hopkins-as-pope-benedict-xvi-1235378

Anthony Hopkins Confronts Successor Over Criticism in 'The Two Popes' Teaser Trailer
11:29 AM PDT 8/29/2019  by  Katherine Schaffstall 

Sidney Cole, Lisandro Fiks and Maria Ucedo round out the cast of the Fernando Meirelles-directed film.

Netflix released the teaser trailer for The Two Popes on Thursday.

The Fernando Meirelles film follows Cardinal Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), who requests permission from Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) to retire in 2012 after becoming frustrated with the direction of the church. Pope Benedict instead summons his harshest critic and future successor to Rome to reveal a secret that shakes the foundation of the Catholic Church. Once at the Vatican, the two very different men confront elements from their pasts in order to find common ground and forge a future for their followers around the world.

Sidney Cole, Lisandro Fiks and Maria Ucedo round out the cast.

The trailer opens with Pope Benedict XVI playing the piano for Cardinal Bergoglio, who ultimately becomes Pope Francis. The men discuss The Beatles and while Benedict says that he is familiar with the band, he mistakes their song "Eleanor Rigby" for a person.
 
The film's world premiere will take place at the Telluride Film Festival. The Two Popes will be in select theaters on Nov. 27 before it's added to the streaming service on Dec. 20.

Hmmm...came across the following article from 2013:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/the-pope/9931030/Pope-Francis-run-in-with-Benedict-XVI-over-the-Prophet-Mohammed.html
Pope Francis' run-in with Benedict XVI over the Prophet Mohammed
Pope Francis came close to losing his position within the Catholic Church after he criticised his predecessor seven years ago.
By Alasdair Baverstock
10:11AM GMT 15 Mar 2013